TREES ARE CONVERSATION PIECES?

Passage No. 17/Composicion No. 17

THE ECOLOGY TREE (Ficus)/EL ARBOL DE LA ECOLOGIA (Ficus)

 It was June of 1995 and Alexis was coming from the United States with her daughter, Jennifer, to visit her sister in Buenos Aires.

 Era Junio del año 1995.  Alexis venia desde Estados Unidos con su hija Jennifer, a visitar a su hermana que vivia en Buenos Aires. 

Alexis' sister tried to prepare everything in her simple house so that her Alexis would have a nice trip to a foreign country.

 La hermana de Alexis quiso preparar todo en su casa sencilla, de modo que Alexis tuviera un viaje agradable en un país extranjero.

 Argentina seemed so remote to people from the United States.

Argentina parecia estar muy lejana de Estados Unidos. 

They didn't understand the different style of  life.

Ellos no se adaptaban al estilo diferente de vida.

Alexis' sister painted the walls, polished the furniture and cleaned the closets to make more room in her small house.

 La hermana de Alexis, pinto las paredes, lustro los muebles y ordeno los placardes, para crear mas espacios en su pequeña casa.

Then she went to buy some plants. She bought a plant that is called the "Ecology Tree", but was it a bush or a tree?

Luego ella fue a comprar algunas plantas.  Compro una que se suele llamar "el arbol de la ecologia", pero..¿ era esta un arbusto o un arbol? 

It was so small.  Aquello era tan pequeño.

She couldn't resist the dark green shinny leaves and the majestic presence of the tree.

Ella no resistia las hojas brillantes, verdes y oscuras y la presencia majestuosa del arbol.

Alexis never knew that her sister had bought the tree especially for her visit, but she thought it was very beautiful and decorative when she saw it. 

 Alexis nunca supo que su hermana habia comprado el arbol especialmente por su visita.  Cuando ella vio la planta, penso que era hermosa y .  The tree grew to be very tall!   El arbol creio y llego a ser muy alto

Questions: / Cuestionario:

1.  When does this story take place?

1. En que fecha transcurre la historia?

It was June of 1995.

2.  ¿ De que pais venia Alexis?

2.  What coutry did Alexis come from?

Alexis came from the United States.

3.  ¿Porque Alexis viajo hasta Buenos Aires?

3.  Why did Alexis travel to Buenos Aires?

     She went to visit her sister in Buenos Aires.

4.  ¿Que arreglos hizo la hermana de Alexis en la casa?

5.  What changes did Alexis' sister make in her house?

Alexis' sister painted the house.  She polished the furniture and cleaned the closets to make more room in her small house.

5.  Describe the plant Alexis's sister bought.

5.  ¿Como era el arbol que la hermana compro?

It was very small, with dark green shinny leaves and had a majestic presence.

Tell about an experience you had in l995.

Comente sobre experiencias propias del año 1995.

Are people from the U.S. accustomed to cultures from other countries?

¿La gente en Estados Unidos se acostumbra facilmente a otros paises?

Name some different types of trees or bushes.

Nombre algunos diferentes especias de arboles o arbustos.

How can a person prepare for someone's visit?

¿Como suele una persona preparar para la visita de otras personas?